Geranium plant named ‘Dueline’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueline’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dueline’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Dueline’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Zonal Geranium cultivars withnumerous and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in August, 2002 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number E-02-09, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z98-4033-01, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Dueline wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July,2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dueline has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dueline’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dueline’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Semi-double dark pink-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have deeper purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Germanium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium×hortorum cultivar Blues, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,373. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany,plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivarBlues in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller leaves and        shorter petioles than plants of the cultivar Blues.    -   2. Plants of the Zonal Geranium had smaller flower umbels than        plants of the cultivar Blues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueline’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in aglass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production. During the production of theplants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levelsaveraged 4,500 lux. Plants were about two months from planting when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Dueline.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number E-02-09, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z98-4033-01,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact and upright plant habit;            uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit. Freely basal branching habit with about three lateral            branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 12 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 5 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Slightly            pubescent. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            137B; venation, 144A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 138B; venation, 144A. Zonation pattern: Not            observed.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 9.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.            Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers persistent. Flowers            not fragrant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 15 to 20            flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            Germany, flowering is continuous from spring throughout the            summer.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant.        -   Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 66B to 66C.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six. Length: About            2.4 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly flat.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: 66A. When opening, lower            surface: 66D. Fully opened, upper surface: 66C; venation,            close to 66C. Fully opened, lower surface: 66D; venation,            close to 66D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About two. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 66A. When opening, lower surface: 66D. Fully            opened, upper surface: 66C; venation, close to 66C. Fully            opened, lower surface: 66D; venation, close to 66D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.2 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14.5 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.7 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five to seven. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Oval. Anther color: 35B. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma            size: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 66C. Style length: About            2 mm. Style color: 66C. Ovary color: Close to 145D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Germanium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C., and have demonstrated good garden    performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueline’ asillustrated and described.